Sunday the 29th began with purpose.

Many of the locals already were aware of Shouri’s presence and were welcoming, if not curious about the human in their midst. With yesterday’s temple service, the Maestro’s concerns about Naturals (like the five that had jumped them previously) were eased.

Thinking about it further, it was just like surface society: there were good people and bad people. Assuming everyone was out to get him only earned unnecessary stress wrinkles. With that in mind, he tried to have more confidence despite his condition and went down to the hotel lobby to have breakfast with Miro properly.

Sure enough, no one paid the odd pair any mind and they were allowed to enjoy their breakfast in peace.

“I think today we get a map,” Miro proposed as he finished his meal.

Shouri nodded. “Agreed, I don’t know the local geography very well,” he said. “Have you ever left Subterris?” came the next question.

There was a pause from the earth-elemental. “Non.” Miro lowered his head, visibly trembling. “I have not.”

Shouri mulled over the Fox’s reaction. “You don’t have to come with if you don’t want to – you’ve done more than I could ever ask.”

“Non!” Miro slammed the table and stood up as he shouted this. “I want to see human city!” His expression fell, shoulders catching slack. “Tu ce l'hai data...” he mumbled.

Taking a deep breath, Shouri sighed. “I understand,” he spoke. “I’m sure my Resonators would want to thank you too.” The Maestro smirked. Miro’s gaze rose to meet Shouri’s. “So let’s figure this out then.”

Miro nodded, slowly brightening back up.

As not to press their luck, the duo agreed they would leave this evening assuming they could get to Alspo within a few hours.

The first order of business was figuring out where they could get to the surface from. Miro knew each of the four outlying chambers had ways to leave Subterris as a whole – only the central chamber had no way to reach the surface.

Thankfully, it wasn’t too difficult to spot: on one of the northern walls, there was a footpath carved that slowly crawled up to a small tunnel, just like the one Shouri and Vii used in the south cave when they first entered Subterris.

Next was the tricky part: how far was the North Subterris entrance from Alspo?

“Let’s look for a map here.” Miro had led them to a small convenience store.

“Good idea.” Shouri nodded in agreement.

A bell chimed overhead as the two travelers entered the shop. Shouri wasn’t sure what he expected of the unassuming store, but it was just like its surface counterparts. The only difference was the packaging was in Naturalian rather than Maelish. As he browsed the selections on offer, the Maestro noted some of the brands available were the same as products he could buy in any human settlement.

“There is trade...” Shouri mumbled to himself. Subterris wasn’t as isolated as it appeared. That also explained why the entrances into Subterris were so well maintained – they were in regular use.

While that was an interesting tidbit, it didn’t help locate a map. Looking around he found Miro by the cash register, poring over the magazine racks. Shouri joined his traveling companion, but found he had the same problem as he did with the other packaging: everything was in Naturalian.

“Mi scusi signore,” Miro called for the shopkeeper. “Dove sono i tuoi mappe?”

“Mappe dei che?” The avian shopkeeper raised a feathered brow.

“La superficie,” said the earth fox simply.

Shouri received a suspicious gaze from the bird man. “Non ce li abbiamo,” he replied gruffly.

Miro wilted but wasn’t too surprised. “Grazie per il vostro tempo…” he mumbled, before ushering his Maestro companion to the entrance. “They don’t have maps,” he informed the Maestro.

“Figured,” Shouri replied.

The pair stood outside the convenience store, trying to figure out their next course of action. Before they could come up with a plan a couple of Naturals approached the pair. Two bi-pedal rodent men, with green colored fur emanating a woody, almost grassy aura; Nature elements.

“Non sei il benvenuto, qui,” one spoke with a gravelly squeak directed at Shouri.

The Maestro simply stared blankly at the rat-man, raising a brow. He had no idea what was said to him, but based on the posturing and aggressive tone of voice, he figured it couldn’t be good.

A hypothesis proven correct when Miro held out an arm and spoke in his stead: “Stiamo provando a lasciare, ma ci serve una mappa.” The earth fox tried to remain calm, but it was evident he was panicking.

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Shouri brushed his hand across his side, knowing there was no tuner there and consequently no Resonator to jump to his and Miro’s defense. There was a definite frustration welling up in the boy at the scenario he had been forced into. Every moment in this state made his heart ache for the comfort his precious Resonators provided him more and more.

Focusing back on reality, these two Nature elements were the worst matchup for poor Miro, his earth element making his spells weaker against his adversaries and being weak to their spells.

He'd almost certainly get beaten into the ground by these two.

After last night’s encounter, Shouri was sure Vii was watching him nearby. Should he call out for her? No! That’s what she wanted! But… Miro was about to get thrashed and Shouri couldn’t let that happen, he took in a breath.

But before the rats could cause problems, a tall shadow was cast over Shouri. The Maestro released his held breath in surprise, whipping around to face the source of the sudden shade. He found himself face-to-face with a large bull man. The radiant heat of the fire element washed over the two smaller boys.

The bull stepped around the Maestro and the fox, glaring down the street rats.

“Hai qualche problema con mio amico?” The bull towered over the other Naturals who remained rooted in place from fear.

“Nulla signore!!” the two yelped before scurrying away.

With a snort, the bull man turned to the pair. “Cos'è successo, sta bene?” he asked.

It was when the fire element turned to face them that Shouri recalled who this was: it was the Natural from the previous night’s temple service. The bull who took great interest in Shouri’s hunting exploits.

The boy lowered his head and smiled warmly. His opinion from earlier was proven right: there are just as many good people as there are bad.

“Shouri!” Miro’s call snapped the boy from his thoughts. “He has a map of the surface we can read!”

“Oh!” Shouri wasn’t about to look this gift bull in the mouth.

----------------------------------------

“Hmmm…” Miro and Shouri pored over the map laid out on a table.

“I’m not sure exactly how far away it is,” Shouri commented.

As it turned out, their savior took regular trips to Alspo, so he had possession of a local topography map complete with routing to the town in question.

“Quanto dista da qui?” Miro questioned.

“Un paio di ore, all'incirca,” the bull responded.

“He says about two hours,” Miro relayed to Shouri.

“That’s on foot, right?” Shouri inquired.

After another exchange between the two Naturals, Miro nodded in the affirmative.

Shouri’s brows descended into a determined glare. “We’ll leave tonight.”

Miro stared for a moment – that was a bold declaration for someone with supposedly weak willpower. Either way, it wasn’t something the fox would concern himself with. If Shouri was ready to go, it was the best chance they had for making it.

“I am ready when you are.” Miro hesitantly nodded, agreeing to the Maestro’s timetable.

“Let’s get ready then,” Shouri declared.

Their preparations were slow and methodical, they had the whole day to get stuff done and they would be walking through some rough territory if the map was to be believed. As such they took their time and made sure to eat their fill at dinner – they’d almost certainly need the energy if walking through the desert was on the docket, regardless of whether or not they’d be on a proper road.

Finally, the agreed-upon hour arrived. It was roughly ten at night, Shouri and Miro stood at the exit to Subterris, a wind blowing from behind them as if beckoning them into the cave that was to take them to the surface.

The Maestro of the pair adjusted the re-purposed parachute bag on his back – filled with water bottles and some food just in case. He looked to the small fox by his side, who carried his satchel of supplies.

Taking in a breath, Shouri voiced his concern. “Are you absolutely certain you want to come with? I won’t hold it against you if you turn back,” though he said this, Shouri really didn’t want to make this journey alone.

Thankfully he wouldn’t. “Non. I want to make sure you see your Resonators again.” Miro’s reason for tagging along changed at some point it seemed. Either way, Shouri accepted he’d have company for this trek.

With their goal in mind and motivation reaffirmed, Shouri took the first step out of Subterris, his Natural companion following along.